New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-11
THE BItdIIAN REVOLUTION.

Honolulu has attained the dignity OF real
revolution. The people assisted no doubt
by the foreign elemenD have risen IN their
might: the Hawaiian army, one hundred and
forty strong, has declared for the popular
side; King Kalakaua has been given the
choice between deposition and RECONSTRUCTION:
he has promptly declared his willingness to
sacrifice any number Of his Ministers on the
altar of reform; the wicked Premier Gibson
has been deposed and put under arrest; new
Cabinet named by the people has been APP
pointed; and thus far the drama had proceeded,
when the last steamer left, without bloodshed
IL is. of course, impossible to say whether
the change of Government will pass over
altogether peacefully. Perhaps it is rather
against a tranquil prospect that the natives
find themselves in possession of quantity OIL
firearms and ammunition. There must be
natural yearning to put these arms to some
practical use, and as the obnoxious Ministers
are in custody there may be some temptation
TO make targets of them. The Hawaiians, how
eyer. arc not considered bloodthirsty in these
days. and it is to be hoped that the foreign
clement which is influential, will be able
to conduct the affair to a quiet and orderly
issue.
No doubt the form Of amendment insisted
upon by the popular body was chosen less
because Of any tenderness for Kalakaua than
because the forcible deposition OF that mon
arch would have been liable to invite foreign,
interference and might have led up to the
annexation of the Islands. mere change
of Cabinet is quite another matter and justifies
no Power in meddling. As regards the re-
u
Kalakana himself was almost wholly account
able for the fragrant acts Of bribery and swirl
ding which capped the climax and precipitatcd
the revolution. Possibly the acceptance OF
bride alone might not have so stirred the
wrath of the islanders but the King hrsc
took the bride and then deliberately cheated
the briber: in short las shown in yesterdays
TRrBUYE). behaved like professional "crook.
II docs not appear to be charged that Gibson
was a conscnting party to this Infamous act
but it is probably held that the business Of
n Hawaiian Premier is to keep watch on his
royaI master and to restrain him when he
evnccs a disposition to disgrace himself. Glib
son. however, has a record which has no Doubt
been used against him, and his deposition Is
payment for many matters besides the lmme
date issue.
It is reported that the new Cabinet is hos
tile to the interests or pretentions or purposes
of Claus Spreckles, sometimes called the Sugar
King. Mr. Spicckles at one time monopollzed
the sugar product Of the islands. and while
owning many plantations controlled many
more either by contract or mortgage The
prcsumption would naturally be that a. busi-
ness man all he would stipulate for would he
a strong and economical Government, but he
has boon credited with various odd AMBITIONS
whether or not with any truth. The present
uprising is a protest, however, not against
outside, but inside Vaccinations. There has
ALWAYS been number Of Adventures hanging
about the Hawaiian Court. ready To curry favor
with the King by any methods, and greedily
looking for rewards in Office or plumber
Kalakaua. a weak, sensual and incompetent
iigurchead has been pulled this way and thai
by the rogues surrounding him, until their
abuscs and his have become intolerable. III
the great Powers would hold their hands oil.
the best course would be TO turn the island
Government into a republic and send Kalalaua
and his crew packing. As it is, the farce OF
ROYALTY viii probably have to be maintained
some time longer. but henccforth it is pre-
sun,able that the King viii be shOrn OF most
of the little power he possessed. and that the
Cabinet will be practically accountable to the
pcople-which really means the leading foreign
element. At present no mischief appears
likely to result from the revolution.